January 18, 2007: Six Days, Part 2
How many of you were a complete mess while watching this episode, like I was? Out. Of. Control. Hey - it's not a shocker when
Grey's Anatomy makes you cry - I'm used to getting teary-eyed at least once per episode. But multiple times throughout the hour - that only happens once or twice per
season for me. Wow. Can someone please give
T.R. Knight an Emmy, Golden Globe or SAG nomination? To the best of my knowledge, he has never been
individually nominated for any TV acting award, and after tonight, he's due. He had so many award-worthy scenes, starting with the moment when George figured out that Webber and Bailey had abided by Mr. O'Malley's wishes and given him the surgery, even after seeing that his cancer had spread. "He didn't know any better!
You knew better!" Then, I lost it again when George spoke to his on-life-support father and admitted to lying to him as a child, apologized and asked him to "fight a little harder - that'd be good" and then kissed him. Bawled my eyes out (as did my roommate). That was followed by the scene when Webber and Bailey gave the O'Malley family their two choices: wait a few days or weeks on life support or pull the plug. George: "He's not Dad like this, and he's not going to wake up, Mom." More projectile tears. After they pulled the plug on him at the end, I thought the waterworks were over... until Cristina followed George outside and gave him her "Dead Dad's Club" speech: "I'm really sorry you had to join the club." George (with the line that made me lose it the most): "I don't know how to exist in a world where my Dad doesn't." Since that is exactly the way I feel about both of my parents, I was almost out of breath - I was crying that much. Damn you, writer/exec producer
Krista Vernoff! Damn you, T.R. Knight!
But it wasn't just T.R. that made the O'Malley story line so powerful. Outstanding performances were also given by
Debra Monk as Mrs. O'Malley, as well as
Greg Pitts and
Tim Griffin as George's brothers Jerry and Ronny (who, up until tonight, were rarely ever serious, so it was especially poignant to hear them ask George if
he thought they should pull the plug). I've pointed out before how awesome
George Dzundza was as Mr. O'Malley, so he will be missed.
What also impressed me about this episode was how every character (except Mark Sloan, but I'll get to him soon) was asking about George's father. Everyone showed their support, even crabby Burke. The one scene between T.R. and
Isaiah Washington was strange to watch, especially because of what occurred in October and
what happened earlier this week. My advice to Mr. Washington (to paraphrase a brilliant quote made by
Katherine Heigl): You should just not speak in public. Back to the supportive characters - I loved how Callie asked Derek to be dismissed from the surgery she was assigned to just so she could be with George and his family.
It was about time we got to see a different side of Mark Sloan - his sensitive side. No wonder he was talking to Addison that way last week - she aborted his baby eight months ago. But it was a good thing she discussed with him
why she did it - best way to shut him up was bringing up all the affairs he had. I didn't think she'd go as far as to tell him she
did want to have a baby - but with Derek. Ouch. After such a traumatic conversation with Mark at work, how natural for Addison to go to the bar for a drink. Of course, Alex walked in just in time. And, of course, they had to make out, but at least this time they weren't interrupted. (I was actually pleasantly surprised no one did walk in - especially McSteamy - that would've annoyed me.)
I enjoyed Meredith tonight - her scenes with Derek and also with Thatcher. I can vouch for Derek - those anti-snore earplugs do indeed work. The only problem is, you can't hear
anything - such as an alarm clock. I liked that Meredith finally asked Thatcher to give her
his side of the story on why he left - and how lovely to find out she inherited her snoring from
him. Meredith (smilingly): "Thanks." How about Izzie and Cristina having to tell Meredith that she was just like her father, after Meredith foolishly said she didn't have "one thing in common" with Thatcher? FTF - Friends Tell Friends!
I kind of wanted more scenes with
Mae Whitman tonight, but it was cool to see her character Heather walking normally at the end, thanks to Izzie's financial help. Great Izzie/Bailey scenes - so glad Izzie admitted to being both a surgeon
and a person who becomes emotionally involved with her patients... and who won't change.
Other highlights:
- Bailey (speaking of getting emotional) in reference to George's father: "My son was named after his son, so I need a minute."
- Meredith asking Cristina if it was weird that she was a little jealous of George losing his father and Cristina, of course, saying yes.
- Cristina walking in with Burke's meal and then withholding it. The nurse: "Should I call security?"
- The Mark Sloan/Callie scene in which Callie said: "To some men, family is everything." Callie loves her some George.
- Burke telling Derek he hadn't experienced any tremors for a week... in front of a thrilled Cristina.
So, let me know what
you thought. Will you be singing Madonna's "Cry Baby" to me or rather Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone"?
